The catch is that the land will continue to be used for sustainable forestry and recreation like snowmobiling, hiking, hunting and fishing. It will also be managed under a binding conservation easement that protects river corridors, wetlands and other valuable ecological assets.

The Conservancy is committed to keeping timber jobs and communities alive in the region, while protecting biodiversity and conservation values.

“Our scientists put in hundreds of hours identifying significant species and habitats to determine where our biodiversity conservation objectives can be compatible with forestry,” says Michael Carr, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in the Adirondacks.